World Matchplay Darts – Phil Taylors powers on

Darts legend Phil "The Power" Taylor looked back to his domineering best, after having a tough battle on his hands in the first round of the World Matchplay Darts tournament in Blackpool. Taylor was given a tough time by Barrie Bates as The Power started the defence of his crown, and was actually trailing 5-4 in legs at one point. Taylor was uncharacteristically missing doubles and despite a strong start, could not shake off the attentions of the Welshman. Although he was pushed hard, Taylor held everything together once he had held for 5-5 and then ran out as a 10-6 winner. Taylor still managed to rack up a mightily impressive average of 114.99 in the first round, way head of anything anyone else was hitting. There was not any signs of such problem for Taylor in the second round of the World Matchplay Darts at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, as Taylor crushed former World Champion Steve Beaton 10-3. Taylor now moves on to play Kevin Painter in the quarter finals.

Kevin Painter can hold his head up high after giving one of the great darts performances in the first round of the 2010 World Matchplay darts. Trailing 8-2 to ninth seed Colin Lloyd, Painter went on a startling darting rampage and accomplished one of the most unlikely comebacks to take the match 11-9. That was, arguably one of the performances of the first round, and Painter backed up all his hard work by taking out 8th seed Mark Walsh in the second round. There were some big name causalities in the first round, as seventh seed Adrian Lewis crashed out, losing to Mark Webster from Wales, and Co Stompe beat 10th seed Andy Hamilton. Stompe then proceeded to knock out Mark Webster in the second round, setting up a clash with the Netherlands’ big hope, Raymond van Barneveld, who has looked the most impressive player at the oche so far at the Winter Gardens.

Raymond van Barneveld looks hungry and motivated, and hit a nine dart finish in his first round 10-1 demolition of Denis Ovens in the first round. The Dutchman posted one of the highest averages of the first round (97.63) to cruise through to the second round. Barneveld then upped his averages in the second round as he raised his game to 103.85 in beating Alan Tabern 13-5 to move onto the quarter finals. Number three seed, and decent bet, James Wade safely negotiated his way to the quarter finals, beating Andy Smith and Vincent van der Voort. Wade’s not posting the high averages and both games have been tight, but he plays unseeded Wayne Jones in the quarter finals. Jones beat 11th seed Colin Osborne in the first round, and then 6th seed Ronnie Baxter in the second.

2010 World Match Play darts Quarter Final Draw – Match Odds

Phil Taylor (1) (1/33 at Bwin) v Kevin Painter (10/1 at Bwin)
Jelle Klaasen (5/2 at Bwin) v Simon Whitlock (12) (2/7 at Bwin)

Raymond van Barneveld (2) (3/10 at Boylesports) v Co Stompe (7/2 at SkyBet)
James Wade (3) (1/7 at Blue Square) v Wayne Jones (11/2 at SportingBet)

World Matchplay Winner Betting Odds

Phil Taylor - 2/7 at BetFred
Raymond van Barneveld – 9/1 at SportingBet
James Wade – 10/1 at Victor Chandler
Simon Whitlock – 12/1 at Blue Square
Co Stompe – 50/1 at SportingBet
Jelle Klaasen - 66/1 at SportingBet
Wayne Jones - 100/1 at Coral
Kevin Painter – 125/1 at ExtraBet

2010 World Matchplay Stats

• Taylor has hit fifteen 180 maximums, the highest in the tournament so far, with Raymond van Barneveld second with 10.
• Taylor has the highest 3 dart average of 114.99 for the tournament, while second placed Raymond van Barneveld has 100.74
• Highest checkout of the tournament has been a 160 from Mark Walsh, of the remaining players left in the tournament, Raymond van Barneveld has the highest of 142.